Machine tool lubrication



Jan. 21, 1941. V KQCHER v 2,229,095

MACHINE TOOL LUBRICATION orig inalFiled Sept. 24, 1954 4 Shefcs-Sheet 1 j WM&

% ATTORNEYS/ Jan. 21, 1941. E. H. KQCHER 2229;095

' MACHINE moi, LVUBRICATION Original Filed Sept. 24, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet. 3

I I l;

INVENTOR 'Z'az/urdjZKa /Zer BY ATTORNEY5 F-IDI.

Jan. 21', 1941. 5., H, KOCHER 2,229,095

I MACHINE TOOL LUBRICATION Original Fiied Sept. 24, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INYENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 21, 1941' PATENT OFFICE MACHINE TOOL LuBaIcA'rroN Edward H. Kocher, Boonton, N. 1., assignor to Auto Research Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application September 24, 1934, Serial No. 745,18

Renewed September 23, 1939 V 28 Claims.

The present invention relates to central lubricating systems which is generally adapted to machine tools and particularly adapted to the slide, compound rest, and apron bearings of lathes of various constructions.

In typical lathe constructions and other machine tools there are two parallel runways on either side of the machine, which guide and sup- P rt the carriage. At the front of the lathe this carriage is provided .with 9. depending apron .makes it unfeasible to utilize a series of separatepumps, one for each bearing, and/or to utilize an automatic system which may be operated from the mechanism operating the lathe, inasmuch as the carriage and apron shouldbe assured relative ireedomjof movement backwardly and forwardly on their guideways without resorting to flexible conduitsextending from other parts of the lathe structure. 7

An object of the invention is to provide a compact, convenient, and inexpensive central lubri- 5 eating installation to be associated with the apron and carriage bearings of the lathe structure which will not materially increase the bulk or weight of said apron and carriage and which may be conveniently connected to supply the 40 various bearings with the proper amounts of lubricant in accordance with their needs.

Other objects will appear during the course of the following specification.

In accomplishing these objects, it has been 45 found inost satisfactory to associate a compact small volume reciprocatory plunger pump structure with the apron oi the lathe carriage in such a manner that the lower part of the apron aifords a reservoir for the pump.

In the preferred embodiment, it has beenfound convenient to position the axis of the reciprocating pump horizontally and attach it and its reservoir to the lower part 01 the carriage. From this pump there may extend the principal feed .55 line to a junction, which junction preferably has a plurality of restriction outlets connected by tail pipes, or drilled passages, to places of distribution.

To supply the certain bearings on the apron, it has been found satisfactory to utilize individual 5 drip plugs for each hearing or to permit one of the drip plugs to feed a felt or wicking distribution pot from which a plurality of tail pipes lead to the various bearings. For the various bearings connected with the slides both transverse and 10' longitudinal of the carriage and tool holder, it has been found most convenient to feed metered quantities of lubricant by tail pipes, from a group of metering devices arranged at. the upper part of the apron.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features 01 the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of the lubricating installation of. the present invention to a typical carriage and apron structure.

Fig. 2 is an upturned cross sectional view of the pump of Fig. '1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and r Fig. 4 is one form of a metering fitting which may be employed.

Figs. 5 to 13 illustrate alternative methods of actuating the central feed pump which may be immersed in the reservoir.

Referring to Fig. I, the carriage structure is provided with two longitudinal members, a forward longitudinal member III and a rear longitudinal member H, which at their bottom faces are respectively provided with the recesses i2 and I3, which are adapted to rest upon the main runways ,of the lathe structure (not shown). A forward part of the carriage is provided with the apron M having the hand wheel l5 and the handle I6 to enable manual adjustment of the lathe along said runways of the lathe bed.

The wheel I5 is pivotally mounted at I! and upon rotation will turn the pinion l8 and the gear 19. The lathe is also provided with transverse runways 20, 2| having re-entrant shoulders, which support the transverse tool carrier (not shown). The transverse carriage 20, 2! is moved backwardly and forwardly by the screw 22 which is actuated by the handle 23 carried on the apron structure it. v v

' As indicated by the circles 23, 24, 25, 26, 21,

28 and 29, there are some seven bearings to be lubricated upon the apron structure. Upon the main slide structure there are six places 32, 33,

which is suitably connected as by the screws 44 (see Figs 2 and 3) to the base 45 of the apron 15 structure. The base 45 of the apron structure is adapted to receive a body of lubricant 46 (see Fig. 1), which finds ready access to the casing C through the openings 4'1 and 48.

The. pump P is provided with a piston 55 re- 20 ceived in a cylinder 56 in the hexagonal block 51.

To the lower part of the cylinder block is connected the cup 58, in which is positioned the wire gauze 59 and the felt filter 60, both being held in position by the fastener ring 6I.

In a pocket at the lower end of the block 51 (see Fig. 2) is formed a valve chamber 62 receiving the valve 63, which serves as an inlet valve to check return flow of lubricant past the filter 60. 30 with an outlet port 64 connecting with the spring seated outlet valve 65, which in turn is connected to the pipe 68 (see also Fig. 1).

The cylinder block 51 is heldto the base 45 of the apron I4 by the flange 6! of the support or carrier member 68, the nut 69 holding said cylinder block 51 in position upon flange 61. The screws I connect the base 68 to the base member 45, the location pin 'II assuring proper alignment.

The upper part of the carrying structure 68 for the pump P (see Fig. 2) is provided with the rearwardly directed flange I2 and the downwardly directed pivot support members I3 and I4. These members 73-I4 carry a pivot member I5 which 45 in turn carries the oscillating actuating arm 42.

The lower end I6 of the arm 42 is provided with a clevis member 11, fitting between the enlargements I8 and I9 on the connecting rod 80. The full and dot-dash lines indicate the extreme pos- 50 itions of the lever I6 in its oscillating movement. The lower enlargement rides in the bore 8I in the flange I3, while the upper enlargement rides in the bore 82 in the flange I4. The lower portion of the enlargement I8 is provided with a 55 recess 83, in which-is received the enlargement 84 on the end of the piston 55, said enlargement 84- being pressed against one end of said recess by the spring 86. Spring 81 reacts against the flange I3 pressing the piston 55 to its extreme 50 discharge position.

Referring to Fig. l the outlet line 66 leads to the junction drip plug, which is provided with the outlet metering fittings I 06 and I01, and is connected to the line I08.

65 Although many types of metering fittings may be employed, one of the preferred forms is shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 4 the drip plug or metering fitting body is threaded at each side, as indicated at I03, said drip plug being pyrovided with 70 a central bore I04 substantially completely filled by the pin I05. The pin I05 leaves a crevice of one or more thousandths of an inch which determines the restriction eifect and metering rating of the fitting.

The inlet end of the drip plug is provided with The present invention is particularly concerned Y The side of the pump block 51 is provided 2 entire gear train.

a socket receiving the filter I09 and the outlet end is provided with a socket receiving the check valve IIO. connected to a Junction (as shown) or to a pipe.

Other types of drip plugs than those shown may be employed or other metering fittings, such as measuring valves, and various types are more fully described in Patents Nos. 1,632,772, 1,734,026 and 1,734,027,-as may also other metering fittings such as disclosed in copending application, Serial No; 580,668, flied August 9, 1922, Patent No. 1,975,920 and Serial No. 596,856, filed October 25, 1922, Patent No. 2,017,848.

Referring to Fig. 1, the drip plug I06 feeds the line II3 which leads to the pot or distributing receiver II4 filled with felt or some other absorptive material. From this felt are fed the lines or conduits which lead respectively to the bearings 23, 24, 25, 26, 21, 28 and 29. One of the lines from the junction leads to the drip plug H5 and from this drip plug II5 the bearings 32 and 33 are fed by suitable connections. The

The inlet end of the fitting may be' junction II6 feeds a plurality of drip plugs I I! which respectively lead to the bearings 34, 35, 36, 31, 38 and 39. r

In operation most of the bearings in connection with the lathe and apron structure shown in Fig. 1 requires lubricant only in proportion to the movement and operation of the apron or carriage. It has been found that the hand wheel I5 will turn substantially proportionately to the requirements of these various bearings, and upon such complete turn of this wheel the cam M will be rotated, oscillating the piston 55 of Fig. 2. Every movement of the piston 55 will draw in a small charge of oil past the inlet valve 63. and eject it past the outlet valve 65 into the outlet conduit 66. This quantity of lubricant which is metered by the pump 55 will then be proportioned among the -earings by the drip plug or other metering fittings I06, I01, H5, H1, and so forth, to the various bearings 23 to 39 about the lathe structure to be lubricated. By this arrangement oil or lubricant is delivered in metered quantities to everymoving part on the lathe structure without unduly increasing the bulk of the structure and without requiring attention by the lathe operator, except for filling the main reservoir at widely spaced intervals, for example, at intervals of once a month. 1

All the hearings. to be lubricated on the apron,

carriage bed and compound rest, will be auto-,

matically supplied with lubricant, and in addition the large diameter apron gears will dip in the oil of the main reservoir, as indicated in Fig. 1, with the result that the gears will carry oil to the As a result, undue wear and friction on bed, carriage, and apron hearings will be largely eliminatedwith resultant increased life of the parts to at least two or three times their normal period.

Moreover, accuracy, of the ways and apron bearings will be maintained for long periods of time.

The system will operate continuously upon revolution of the carriage feed shaft, and the positioning of the strainers at the inlet to the pump and at the inlet to the metering fittings or drip plugs will assure that metal particles will 1 not enter the bearings with subsequent scoring.

Moreover, the feed of lubricant will tend to wash dirt and chips out of the-bearing structures.

In the operation of the pump when the piston 55 is withdrawn from the cylinder by the lever I 42 pivoted on the pump support casting 33 by the action of the eccentric It, fastened to the carriage feed shaft 40, the springtl will force the piston back into the cylinder 56' producing a pressure in the supply line depending .on the rate of oscillation, resistance of Ijoutlets and theviscosity of the oil. The springg-begins to act when "the lever passes the 'crestof the eccentric, as shown in Fig. 2, and the pump continues to deliver oil until the lever is again picked up by the eccentric.

If desired, the spring pressure may be limited so that in quick traverse, when less oil is needed under light load, the number of full pump strokes is automatically reduced, whereas with a slow feed with the bearings working under heavy load, full delivery of pump is obtained at each stroke. As a general rule the principal bearings to be fed are the tool cross feed way (four surfaces, saddle rear flat way (one surface). saddlefront flat way (one surface), saddle front V-way (one surface), and power feed shaft.

In operating the system of the present invention it has been found most satisfactory to use a good gradeof machine oil, that is, clear mineral oil of 300 to 800 Saybolt seconds viscosity at 100 degrees F. Although many different sizes of pumps and types of pumps may be utilized, one preferred form of pump is one with a piston diameter of inch, a stroke of inch, and arranged to have one stroke for every 1 to 3 inches of carriage travel.

Instead of utilizing the drip plug M6, the pipe H3 may lead to a junction, as indicated at H6, andthis junction may be caused to feed the conduits leading to the bearings 23, 24, 25, 26, 21, 20 and 29 through drip plugs mounted in saidjunction.

In Fig. 5 the pump P, which may be of the same construction as already described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4, is actuated by means of the piston 200'received in the cylinder 20f, the upper side of said piston being connected at 202 to a source'of vacuum and the lower side of said piston is connected to the atmosphere or i to a source of fiuid'oi oil' pressure, as indicated at 203. 'In this embodiment the spring 204 is stressed upon upward strokes of the plunger and is released upon downward strokes of the plunger. In Fig. 6 the pump P is actuated through the piston 205 received in the cylinder 206 which is connected to a source of oil or air pressure, as

" indicated at 201.

It will be noted in this instance the spring 203 is received in the cylinder 206 and serves to press the piston toward the upper end of its stroke, as contrasted to the embodiment of Fig. 5 where the piston is pressed toward the lower end of its stroke.

In Fig. 7 the piston-of the pump P is actuated through the solenoid including the armature 209 and the helical coil 2|0. The switch 2 controls the passage of current through the coil 2|0 from the batteries H2 and it may be automatically actuated by operation of the mechanism to be lubricated, as may also the piston motors 200 of Fig. 5 and 205 of Fig. 6.

r In Fig. 8 the pin 2i3 projects upwardly through v the table 2 l4 and when the table is being loaded,

provided with an embossment orprojection 221 which actuates the lever 222 on the carriage through contact by the operating projection 223. The lever in its movement ,about the pivot 224 will operate a piston, as/aiready described in Figs. 1 to 4.

In Figs. 10 and 11, the pump structure P may be enclosed in the casing 225 which contains a body of oil 226. The lever 22! pivoted at 223 will then be actuated by the lobes 229 and .230 on the cam 23L the cam 23i and the drum may rotate'at different speeds in respect to each other, or the drum may If desired, both the shaft of rotate and the cam stands still, or the drum may standstill and the cam rotate. As is apparent from the side view shown in Fig. 11 the front of the drum is annularly closed, as indicated at 232, so as to always retain the body of oil 226 in the lower part thereof so that the pump will be immersed when the lever 22! is being actuated by either one or both of the lobes-229 and 230.

In Fig. 12 is shown'an arrangement in which the drum 233 is rotated by the shaft 23l while the Dl structure is actuated by cooperation of the elements 235 and 236.

In Fig. 13 two cams 231 and 238- may be utilized to actuate the follower members 239 and 240 with the bell crank lever 2, which is pivoted at 242, said bell crank lever being provided with an extension 243.

- various particulars or be applied in many varied relations without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, the practical embodiments herein illustrated and described merely showing some of the various features entering into theappllcation of the invention.

, What is claimed is:

1. In an oiling device for the ways of a lathe, the combination with a slide and slide apron, of a spring discharged oil pump mounted on said apron, an oil container communicating with the intake side of said pump, an oil delivery conduit leading from the discharge side of said pump to points above the ways and movable bodily with said slide and apron, a shaft controlling the traverse mechanism of said slide, and anoperating connection from said shaft to said pump to cause charging of the pump and to stress the discharging spring, which spring will be actuated subsequently to cause discharge of the pump.

2. In an oiling device for the ways of a lathe, the combination with a slide and slide apron, of an oil pump mounted on said apron, an oil container mounted on said apron and communicating with the intake side of said pump, an 011 delivery conduit leading from the discharge side of said pump to points above the Waysv and movable bodily with said slide and apron, a hand wheel controlling the traverse mechanism of said slide, provided with a shaft and a cam and a connec tion from said cam to the plunger of said pump operative to effect a suction stroke of said plunger and a spring charged by said charge stroke subsequently effecting plunger.

3. In an oiling device for the ways of a lathe. the combination witha slide and slide apron, of an oil container mounted below said apron, a

a discharge stroke of said bearings associated with said apron, said drip l bricating installation comprising a reservoir horizontally mounted plunger pump mounted in said container and communicating on its intake side with the interior of'the latter, an oil delivery conduit leading from the discharge side of said pump to'points abovethe ways and movable bodily with said slide and apron, a hand wheel controlling the traverse mechanism of said slide and an operating connection from said wheel to said pump.

4. In an oiling device for the ways of a lathe, the combination with a slide having ducts opening through the portions thereof which ride on the ways, and a slide apron, of an oil pump mounted on said apron, an oil container communicating with the intake side of said pump, a tube extending from the discharge side of said pump to said duct, a device controlling the traverse mechanism of said slide, and an operating connection 'from said device to said pump to actuate said pump throughout traversing movement of the slide apron.

5.- In an oiling device for the ways of a lathe, the combination with a slide and slide apron, of an oil pump mounted on said apron, an oil container communicating with the intake side of said pump, an oil delivery conduit leading from the'discharge side of said pump to points above the ways and movable bodily with said slide and apron, a device mounted on said apron and controlling the traverse mechanism of said slide, and a link and lever operating connection from said device to the plunger of said pump said pump being actuated automatically throughout traversing movement of the slide apron.

'6. An oil device for the bearings associated with the slide and slide apron of a lathe, comprising an oil reservoir formed in the lower part of said apron, a reciprocating spring-return piston pump to continuously feed lubricant during operation, means actuated upon reciprocation of said slide to cause at least one reciprocation of said pump for each reciprocation of said slide, said pump being positioned below and communieating with said oil'reservoir,;a junction positioned in the upper part of said apron substantially at the top of the slide and receiving lubricant under pressure from said pump and. distributing it without substantial loss in pressure, a conduit extending from the outlet of the pump to said junction, adrip plug distributing system extending fromsaidjunction to the bearings associated with the slide and a gravity distributing system fed from saidijunction extending to the plug system being provided with drip plugs removed from said junction and said gravity system being provided with dripplugs adjacent said junction.

7. In combination with a lathe ofthe type having a slide, a slide apron, said slide having a pluxrality of ways to be lubricated and said apron h' w aagear train also to be lubricated; a luformed in the lower part. of said apron, a reciprocating spring-return piston pump to continuously feed lubricant during operation, means actuated uponreciprocation of said slide to cause at least one reciprocation'of said pump for each reciprocation of'said slide, said pump being positioned at the lower, part of said reservoirre- 'ceiving lubricant from said apron, a distributj'ing receiver positioned at the upper part 01 said apron receivinglubricant from said pump and receiving lubricant under pressure from said pump and distributing it without substantial loss in pressure, drip plug controlled distributing conduits from said distributing receiver to the ways to be lubricated, said gear train being located so that a portion thereof will beimmersed in the lubricant in said reservoir, whereby said gear train will be lubricated, the drip plugs on .said conduits being located substantially away from said receiver and at the level of the said receiver.

8. In a lathe lubricating installation, for the bearings associated with the slide and'slide apron of a lathe, a reciprocating pump and a. distributing system leading to said bearings fed from said reciprocating pump, said distributing system being provided with flow metering devices to proportion the lubricant among said bearings, said reciprocating pump being continuously actuated from the feed shaft of the lathe apron and slide.

9. In a lubricating installation for the bearings associated with the apron and slide of a lathe, a reciprocating spring discharged plunger pump and reservoir unit positioned in'the lower part of said aproma lever means to actuate said plunger, a cam actuating said lever and actuated in turn at the rate 01' traverse of said lathe, and a distributing system leading to said bearings fed from said pump, said distributing system being provided with flow metering devices to proportion the lubricant among said bearings.

10. In a lubricatingdnstallation for the bearings associated with the slide and apron of a lathe of the type having a-carriage ieed shaft, a reciprocating plunger pump provided with a return sprin a cam upon said feed shaft, said pump being charged by operation of said cam and being slowly discharged by operation of said spring, the period oi discharge under the influence of ,said spring being so extended that a full discharge will not be obtained at rapid revolutions of said eccentric, so that less lubricant will be supplied in quick traverse under light load than in slow traverse under heavy load.

11. In an engine lathe in combination with the bed and carriage mounted for travel on the bed, and a cross teed tool-holder on the carriage, an apron structure depending from the carriage and provided with bearings, feed elements supported in the apron bearings and'organized for moving the carriage on the bed and the slide on the carriage, said apron structure being also formed to constitute a base oil container below the bearings, a relatively elevated gravity feeding oil chamber above the bearings communicating with the oil container, and oil conduits leading downwardly from the chamber to the apron structure bearings, and thence draining into the base container, an oil pump controlling the passage from the container to the chamber, a pump operating mechanism operatively .connected to the apron feed mechanism and a distributing system having an inlet from the pump and a plurality of outlets to the slide bearings to be lubricated.

12. An apron structure as a housing partly enclosing a feed mechanism, adapted for attach-v ment to a lathecarriage having slide bearings, and comprising floor and wall members, the floor and wall members being provided respectively with an oil container and gravity feeding oil chamber, a pump controlling the oil circulation nism, and a distributing system havingan inlet from the pump and a. plurality of outlets to the slide bearings to be lubricated.

13. An oiling system for lathes having a reciprocating slide, comprising a pump for oil located in the apron, said pump having a springreturned and discharged, small diameter elongated unpacked metal plunger, means to elevate said plunger and stress said spring at least once for each reciprocation ofthe slide, to cause a relatively continuous feed of lubricant during operation of the lathe, a reservoir in said apron, separate highly restricted distributing systems for delivering lubricant to the slideways and the apron bearings to be lubricated, the restrictions having a predominating restricting effect and being supplied with lubricant under full pump pressure to control its proportionment among the bearings to be lubricated and being located above the bearings and being connected thereto by gravity flow tail conduits.

14. An piling system for lathes having a reciprocating slide comprising a pump for 011 located in the apron, said pump having a spring-returned and discharged, small diameter elongated Imation of the lathe, a junction at the top of the apron to which saidoil is delivered by the pump,

highly restricted passageways from said junction directed to the shaft apron bearings highly re-l stricted,-passageways from said junction directed to the top of the slide and a reservoir in the apron, the restrictions having a predominating restricting effect and being supplied with lubricant under full pump pressure to control its proportionment among the bearings to be lubricated and being located above the bearings and being connected thereto by gravity fiow tail conduits.

15. An oiling system for lathes having a reciprocating slide comprising an oil pump in the apron, said pump having a spring-returned and discharged, small diameter elongated unpacked metal plunger, means to elevate said plunger and stress said spring at least once for each reciprocation of the slide, to cause a relatively continuous feed of lubricant during operation of the lathe, channels in the slide adjacent the cross slide ways to which oil is delivered by the pump, passages therefrom to the cross slideways, and highly restricted passages from the pump to the top of the apron for delivering oil by gravity to the interior of the apron, the restrictions having a predominating restricting effect and being supplied with lubricant under full pump pressure to control its proportionment among, the bearings to be lubricated and being located above the bearings and being connected thereto by gravity flow tail conduits.

16. An oiling system for latheshaving a reciprocating slide comprising an oil reservoir and a,

pump, said pump having a spring-return plunger, means to reciprocate said plunger at least once for each reciprocation of the slide, to-cause a 7 continuous feed of lubricant during operation of proportionment among the bearings to be lubricated and being located above the bearings and being connected thereto by gravity flow tail conduits.

17. In a lubricating installation for a mechanism having a plurality of spaced and distributed bearings requiring small, yet relatively accurately metered quantities of lubricant, the combination therewith of a lubricant reservoir formed by providing a lubricant pocket on the mechanism, a pump immersed in said pocket, an automatic actuating means operated by said mechanism and driving said pump to feed lubricant substantiah 1y continuously to the bearings during operation of said mechanism and a distributing system having an inlet from said pump and a plurality of outlets to said bearings, said system having proportioning restrictions to proportion the flow of lubricant among said bearings, said system including a distributing receiver at a relatively high elevation above the bearings to be lubricated and 1 separate series of passageways including said restrictions fed from said receiver to feed the bearings at different levels, the restrictions having a predominating restricting effect and being supplied with lubricant under full pump pressure to control its proportionment among the bearings to be lubricated and being located above the bearings and being connected thereto by gravity flow tail conduits. 4

18. A lubricating installation for a machine tool mechanism of the type having a base, a carrier for the metal body to be worked and a carrier for the working tool, one of said carriers be-' ing reciprocable upon said base and said base being provided with slidewaysupon which said carrier reciprocates, which slideways constitute the bearings to be lubricated by said installation, said installation comprising a lubricant reservoir formed by providing a lubricant pocket on the mechanism, a reciprocating, small diameter elongated unpacked metal plunger pump immersed in said pocket, an automatic actuating means operated by said mechanism and driving said ,pump to feed lubricant substantially continuously' to the bearings during operation of said mechanism, said pump being reciprocated at least once for each traverse of the carrier and a distributing system having an inlet from said pump and a plurality of outlets to said bearings, said system having proportioning restrictions to proportion the fiow of lubricant among said bearings,

said pump being provided with a horizontally disposed cylinder and receiving said plunger in said cylinder and said actuating means including a lever connected to said mechanism to cause rapid reciprocation of said pump, the restrictions having a predominating restricting effect and being supplied with lubricant under full pump pressure to control its proportionment among the bearings to be lubricated and being located above the bearings and being connected thereto by gravity flow tail conduits.

19. In a lathe apron and slide lubrication installation, a reservoir in the lower part of the apron, a reciprocating, spring-returned and discharged, small diameter elongated unpacked metal plunger pump immersed therein, separate highly restricted distributing systems feeding said apron and slide bearings, a common junction feeding both systems and a connection from said pump to said junction, the restrictions having a predominating restricting effect and being supplied with lubricant under full pump pressure to control its proportionment among the bearings lugs and being connected thereto by gravity flow tail conduits and said pump being reciprocated at least once during each traverse of said apron to feed lubricant continuously to said bearings during operation of the lathe.

20. In a lathe apron and slide lubrication installation, a reservoir in the lower part of the apron, a reciprocating, spring-returned and discharged, small diameter elongated unpacked metal plunger pump immersed therein, separate highly restricted distributing systems feeding said apron and slide bearings, a common junction feeding both systems and a connection from said pump to said junction, said pump being automatically actuated to feed lubricant to said junction upon traversing movement of the apron, the restrictions having a predominating restricting efi'ect and being supplied with lubricant under full pump pressure to control its proportionment among the bearings to be lubricated and being located above the bearings and being connected thereto by gravity flow tail conduits and said pump being reciprocated at least once during each traverse of said apron to feed lubricant continuously to said bearings during operation of the lathe.

21. In a lathe apron and slide lubrication installation, a reservoir in the lower part of the apron, a reciprocating, spring-returned and discharged, small diameter elongated unpacked metal plunger pump immersed therein, separate highly restricted distributing systems feeding said apron and slide bearings, a common junction feeding both systems and a connection from said pump to said junction, said junction being located at the top of said apron, the restrictions having a predominating restricting effect and being supplied with lubricant under full pump pressure to control its proportionment among the bearings to be lubricated and being located above the bearings and being connected thereto by gravity flow tall conduits and said pump being reciprocated at least once during each traverse of said apron to feed lubricant continuously to said bearings during operation of the lathe.

22. A lubricating installation for a machine tool mechanism of the type having a base, a carrier for the metal body to be worked and a carrier' for the working tool, one of said carriers being reciprocable upon said base and said base being provided with slideways upon which said carrier reciprocates, which slideways constitute the bearings to be lubricated by said installation, said installation comprising a lubricant reservoir formed by providing a lubricant pocket on the mechanism, a reciprocating, small diameter elongated unpacked metal plunger pump immersed in said pocket, an automatic actuating means operated by said mechanism and driving said pump to feed lubricant substantially continuously to the bearings during operation of said mechanism, said pump being re'ciprocated at least once for each traverse of the carrier and a distributing system having an inletfrom said pump and a plurality of outlets to said bearings, said system having proportioning restrictions to proportion the flow of lubricant among said bearings, said pump being provided with a cylinder block with an elongated small diameter bore therein and receiving said plunger therein in said bore and a bracket, carrying said block, guiding the movement oi. said plunger, providing a connection for the pump to said mechanism and providing a bearing for said actuating means, the restrictions having a predominating restricting effect and being supplied with lubricant under full pump pressure to control its proportionment among the bearings to be lubricated and being located above the bearings and being connected thereto by gravity flow tail conduits.

23. A lubricating installation for a machine tool mechanism of the type having a base, a carrier for the metal body to be worked and a carrier for the working tool, one of said carriers being reciprocable upon said base and said base being provided with slideways upon which said carrier reciprocates, which slideways constitute the bearings to be lubricated by said installation, said installation comprising a lubricant reservoir formed by providing a lubricant pocket on the mechanism, a reciprocating, spring-return plunger pump immersed in said pocket, an automatic actuating means operated by said mechanism and driving said pump to'feed lubricant substantially continuously to the bearings during operation of said mechanism, said pump being reciprocated at least once for each traverse of this carrier and a distributing system having an inlet from said pump and a plurality of outlets to said bearings,

said system having proportioning restrictions to proportion the flow of lubricant among said bearings, said pump being provided with a cylinder block with an elongated small diameter bore therein, an elongated unpacked small-diameter plunger therein in said bore and a U-'-shaped bracket, one leg of which is connected to one end of said block, the other leg of which forms a guiding bearing for said plunger and a reaction member the return spring of the plunger, the base of which forms a means of connection to the mechanism and an extension from the base i of which forms a mount for said actuating means, the restrictions having a predominating restricting effect and being supplied with lubricant under full-pump pressure to control its proportionment among the bearings to be lubricated and;being located above the bearings and being connected thereto by gravity flow tail conduits.

24. A lubricating installation for a machine tool mechanism of the type having a base, a carrier for the metal body to be worked and a carrier for the working tool, one of said carriers being reciprocable upon said base and said base being provided with slideways upon which said carrier reciprocates, which slideways constitute the bearings to be lubricated by said installation, said installation comprising a reservoir in the lower portion of said reciprocating carrier, a reciprocating, spring-returned and discharged, small diameter elongated unpacked plunger pump immersed in lubricant in bottom of said reservoir and actuating means for said pump to cause said pump to reciprocate at least once for each traversing-movement of said reciprocating carrier, whereby lubricant will be substantially continuously supplied to said bearings during operation of the mechanism, a branched conduit system with an inlet from said pump and a plurality of outlets to said bearings, said system being provided with means to control the distribution of the lubricant among said bearings and said automatic actuator being operated to cause said pump to charge with lubricant from the reservoir and discharge it into said system during operation of said machine, said controlling means including a plurality of restricted passages positioned above the bearings to be lubricated, said restricted passages being fed under full pump pressure and a plurality of tail passagesbeyond said restricted passages permitting gravity flow therethrough to the bearings.

25. A lubricating installation for a machine tool mechanism of the type having a base, a carrier for the metal .body to be worked and a carrier for the working tool, one of said carriers being reciprocable upon said base and said base being provided with slideways upon which said carrier reciprocates, which slideways constitute the hearings to be lubricated by said installation. said installation comprising a reservoir in the lower portion of said reciprocating carrier, a reciprocating, spring-returned and discharged, small diameter elongated unpacked plunger pump immersed in lubricant in bottom of said reservoir and actuating means for said pump to cause said pump to reciprocate at least once for each traversing movement of said reciprocating carrier, whereby lubricant will be substantially continuously supplied to said bearings during operation of the mechanism, a branched conduit system with an inlet from said pump and a pinrality of outlets to said bearings, said system be ing provided with means to control the distribution of the lubricant among said bearings and said automatic actuator being operated to cause said pump to charge with lubricant from the reservoir and discharge it into said system during operation of said machine, said controlling means including a plurality of restricted passages positioned above the hearings to be lubricated, said restricted passages being fed under full pump pressure and a plurality of tail passages beyond said restricted passages permitting gravity flow.

vrler for the metalbody to be worked and a carrier for the working tool, one of said carriers being reciprocable upon said base and said base being provided with slideways upon which said carrier reciprocates, which slideways constitute the bearings to be lubricated by said installation, said installation comprising a reservoir in the lower portion of said reciprocating carrier, a pump immersing in lubricant in the bottom of said reservoir and actuating means for said pump operated by movement of said carrier, to cause said pump to discharge at least for each transversing movement of said reciprocating carrier,

whereby lubricant will be substantially continu-.

ously discharged to said bearings during operation of the mechanism, said pump including a pump cylinder, a pump plunger reciprocating therein, a return spring, an actuating rod, an actuating lever and a support frame having a support extension for said cylinder and additional support extensions affording bearings for said actuating rod and said actuating iever and a reaction member for said spring, said rod and said piston being operatively connected and said frame having a readily detachablebonnection for application to the interior of a lubricant reservoir. l

27. In a centralized lubricating installation for a mechanism having a wall structure,,a lubricant well associated with said wall structure, said structure having an opening into said well, a bracket having a base mounted on said wall and three outstanding arms, a pump having a cylinder, piston and connecting rod, one of said arms carrying said cylinder and two of said arms affording bearings for said connecting rod and a lever extending through said opening, actuating said connecting rod.

28. The installation of claim 27, said outstanding arms being on one side of said base, and two outstanding arms being provided on the other side of said base forming a pivot mount for said lever, said last-mentioned outstanding arms extending through said opening.

EDWARD H. KOCHER. 

